Mines, Minerals & Metal Asia - Karachi November 2026

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Market news

Latest updates from across the market.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Beneficiation

The process of improving the grade of an ore by removing gangue or unwanted minerals before smelting or further processing. At a mining trade show, beneficiation equipment often includes crushers, screens, gravity separators, and flotation cells.

2

Mineral processing

The branch of mining that separates valuable minerals from waste rock using physical and chemical methods such as crushing, grinding, gravity concentration, flotation, and leaching. It sits between extraction and metal refining and is a core exhibit category at Mines, Minerals & Metal Asia.

3

Comminution

The crushing and grinding stages that reduce ore to a particle size suitable for liberation of valuable minerals. Comminution is energy-intensive and a major focus for efficiency improvements in mining operations.

4

Flotation

A mineral processing method that uses chemicals and air bubbles to separate valuable minerals from gangue based on surface properties. It is widely used for copper, lead, zinc, and other sulfide ores and drives demand for reagent, cell, and control-system suppliers.

5

Heap leaching

A low-cost extraction method where crushed ore is stacked on a lined pad and irrigated with a leaching solution to dissolve metals such as gold or copper. The pregnant solution is then processed to recover the metal.

6

Smelting

A high-temperature process that melts ore or concentrate to separate metal from impurities. Smelters produce molten metal or matte that is further refined, and smelting technology is relevant to metal producers visiting the show.

7

Refining

The final stage of metal production that removes remaining impurities to produce a saleable metal or alloy. Refining methods include electrolysis, fire refining, and chemical purification.

8

Tailings

The fine waste material left after valuable minerals have been extracted from ore. Tailings are stored in engineered facilities and managed for water recovery, stability, and environmental protection.

9

Gangue

The unwanted minerals in an ore that surround or are mixed with valuable minerals. Removing gangue is a central goal of beneficiation and mineral processing.

10

Ore grade

The concentration of a valuable metal or mineral in ore, usually expressed as a percentage or grams per tonne. Higher grade ore generally requires less processing per unit of metal produced.

11

Mineral resource and reserve

A mineral resource is a concentration of material with reasonable prospects for economic extraction; a reserve is the economically mineable part of a measured or indicated resource. The terms are defined by reporting codes such as JORC.

12

Open-pit mining

A surface mining method that removes rock in benches from an open excavation to reach ore bodies near the surface. It is common for large, low-grade deposits and relies on drilling, blasting, loading, and haulage fleets.

13

Underground mining

Extraction of ore from below the surface using shafts, declines, or adits. Underground methods include room-and-pillar, sublevel stoping, and block caving, and require ground control and ventilation.

14

Ground support

Rock reinforcement and retention systems such as bolts, mesh, shotcrete, and steel sets used to stabilise excavations in underground mines. Ground support is a core safety and productivity topic for mining suppliers.

15

EPCM

Engineering, procurement, and construction management. An EPCM contractor designs and manages a mining project and coordinates suppliers, while the owner usually holds the construction contracts.

16

METS

Mining equipment, technology, and services. The METS sector supplies machinery, software, consulting, and support services to mining companies and is a common exhibitor group at mining trade shows.

17

Critical minerals

Minerals considered essential for economic security or the energy transition, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earths. Supply-chain policy and processing capacity are central issues for governments and investors.

18

Concentrate

A processed ore product with a higher concentration of valuable minerals, typically produced by flotation or gravity separation. Concentrates are sold to smelters or refiners for final metal recovery.

19

SAG mill

Semi-autogenous grinding mill. A rotating mill that uses the ore itself plus a small charge of steel balls to grind rock to a finer size in mineral processing plants.

20

JORC Code

The Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. It sets minimum standards for public reporting of exploration and resource data.